Extracardiac Rhabdomyoma

Abstract

Extracardiac rhabdomyoma is a very uncommon tumour. About 20 acceptable cases have been reported in the literature. Most of these are in the head and neck region. A rhabdomyoma removed from the submandibular region in a 36-year-old man is described. The tumour was encapsulated, multi-lobulated and had a total weight of 181 g. The cut surface was grey-yellow, with brown areas, and the consistency soft and fleshy. Light microscopy showed large round, faintly granular cells with the nuclei mostly placed in the periphery. “Spider cells” were found and also myofibril-like structures. In some fibres and cells cross-striations could be visualized. There is no evidence of recurrence of the tumour after 2 years.